Enclosable vase



March 26, 1935. w c GRUENEBERG 1,995,771

ENCLOSABLE VASE Filed July 25, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mllzlam 0. firuene bar gimme/rm W. C. GRUENEBERG ENCLOSABLE VASE 2 Sheets-Sheefi 2 Filed July 23, 1934 William 6. fi'ruenebarj March 26, 1935.

Patented Mar. 26, 1935 "UNITE STATES lac-5,771

PATENT OFFICE 1,995,771 ENCLOSABLE vAsE I William 0. Grueneberg, Cincinnati, Ohio 7 Application July 23, 1934, serial No. 736,483

4 Claims. (01. 47-41) This invention-relates to an enclosable vase particularly adapted for use in holding'flowers adjacent a grave in a cemetery but obviously adapted for other uses such as on'lawns, terraces,

and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind which comprises a casing adapted to be positioned in the ground and a vase which may be disposed in an operative position above the casing and likewise which may belreversed and inserted in the casing when not in use.

Another object is to provide a structure of the kind described in which the vase is movably yet permanently associated with the casing and which requires a minimum of effort in placing the vase either in its operative or non-operative position.

Another object is to provide a disappearing vase of this kind adapted for eflicient low cost manufacture. v

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings-in which: a i

Fig. 1 is an elevational View of the enclosable vase 'of this invention disposed in its operative position, parts being broken away and parts shown in cross section.

Fig. 2 is a view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view partly in cross section with parts broken away, of the device of this invention, the vase being shown as assuming its reversed position just prior to insertion in the casing.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view showing the vase in its inserted inoperative position.

Heretofore enclosable vases of the general class herein contemplated, have been provided but these have possessed a number of disadvantages chief among which were the facility with which 40 the vase could be separated from its casing by unauthorized persons; the inappropriate types of locking means heretofore provided and the difficulty of manipulating both the lock means and the vase itself. These difficulties are overcome by the present invention which provides for a vase enclosable in a casing and slidably but permanently connected therewith, the device providing for great ease in manipulation of the vase without sacrificing its security.

The device comprises a cylindrical open end casing 6, preferably of metal, and having a pair of vertically extending oppositely disposed ways 7 and 8 formed in its walls, the ways opening interiorly of the casing. An enlarged flange 9 is secured at the top of the casing 6 and is formed to provide a seat 10 which projects inwardly of the casingas seen inFigs. 1 and 3. Casing 6 is adapted to, be positioned in the ground and the flange 9 to be positioned upon the ground surface. The flange 9 is provided with a pair of 5 oppositely, disposed apertures 11 and 12 which register Withtheupper ends of the ways 7 and 8. These apertures are disposed just behind the seat 10, the inwardly projecting portion of said seat being uninterrupted throughout its whole cir- 10 cumference.

g A closure member 13 is receivable in the seat 10. On opposite sides of the member 13 is provided a pair of ears 14 and 15 which are pivotally attached to the closure member such as Java pin 15 16 in; Fig. 3.' The ears are receivable in the apertures 11 and 12 of the flange 9. A U-shaped wire member 17 has its-ends secured to the ears L land 15. The leg portions .of the member 17 project slidably into the ways 7 and 8 and the flangeapertures 11 and 12 associated with the casing 6. The transverse portion 18 of the U- shaped member extends across the interiorof the casing, and when the U-shaped member is moved upwardly, the saidtransverse portion 18 contacts the inwardly projecting portion of the seat 10 whereby the upward movement of the U member is limited and removal thereof precluded.

On one side of the closure member 13, a vase 19 is secured and through opposite side of said member a suitable lifting knob 20 is accessible. The operative position of the device is seen in Fig. 1. The closure member 13 is disposed in the seat 10 and the vase 19 projects above the casing in position to receive flowers. The intermediate position of the vase is seen in Fig. 3. Here the vase has been lifted up to the limit of movement afforded by the U member 17, that is, until the transverse portion of the U member has contacted the seat 10. Having been moved to its outer limit, the vase is now swung pivotally between the ears 14 and 15 and the vase disposed in vertical reverse position so as to be receivable in the casing 6. It will be noted that the outside circumference of the top of the vase is less than the inner circumference of the seat 10 so that the vase is permitted to pass into the casing. After the vase has been reversed in the manner described, the lifting knob 20 is utilized for lowering the vase and U member into the casing whereupon the closure member 13 is again received in the seat. It is obvious that any moisture entering the casing 6 is permitted to drain out through the open bottom end thereof. It will be seen that the countersunk relation of knob 20 may be conveniently efiected by providing a chamber 21 therefor in the base of the vase, the closure member 13 being apertured to register with the chambered bottom of the vase. This structure permits all portions of the enclosable vase, including the knob, to be disposed under or flush with the ground level so that they afl'ord no obstacle to the passage of lawn mowers and the like over the adjacent grass.

What is claimed is:

1. An enclosable vase comprising a casing having an open end, a seat provided in said end, a. closure member receivable in said seat, means associated with the closure member and casing and precluding movement of said member away from the casing beyond a limited extent, said member being pivotally associated with said limiting means, and a vase attached to the closure member on one side thereof and adapted to project above the casing in the operative position, and to be reversed 'upon'outward movement and turning of the closure member for insertion into the casing in the enclosed position of the vase.

2. An enclosable outdoor vase comprising a casing adapted to be positioned in the ground and formed with a pair of upright oppositely disposed ways opening interiorly of the casing, an open end in the casing and a flange associated with said end and adapted to be disposed'on the ground surface, a seat in the open end of the-casing, a. pair of oppositely disposedapertures in said flange adjacent said seat and registering with the upper ends of said ways, a closure member receivable in said seat, a pair of oppositely disposed ears pivotally connected to the closure member and receivable in'said flange apertures, a U-shaped wire having its ends attached one each to one of said ears, the leg members of's'aid wire being slidably disposed one each in one of said ways, the transverse portion of the wire being disposed in the casing and being adapted upon upward movement of the wire to contact said seat for limiting outward movement of the wire andclosure member relative to the casing,

and a vase attached to one side of the closure member and adapted to be disposed in an operative position above the casing and to be reversed upon outward movement and turning of the closure member for insertion into the casing in the enclosed position.

3. An enclosable outdoor vase comprising a casing adapted to be positioned in the ground and formed with a pair of upright oppositely disposed ways opening interioriy of the casing, an open end in the casing and a flange associated with said end and adapted to be disposed on the ground surface, a seat in the open end of the casing, a pair of oppositely disposed apertures in said flange adjacent said seat and registering with the upper ends of said ways, a closure member receivable in said seat, a pair of oppositely disposed ears pivotally connected to the closure member and receivable in said flange apertures, a U-shaped wire having its ends attached one each tonne of said ears, the leg members of said wire being slidably disposed one each in one of said ways, the transverse portion of the wire being disposed inthe casing and being adapted upon upward movement of the wire to contact said seat for limiting outward movement'of the wire and closure member relative to the casing, a vase attached to one side of the closure member and adapted to be disposed in an operative position above the casing and to be reversed'upon outward movement and turning of the closure member for insertion into the-casing in the enclosed position, and means on the side of the closure member opposite the vase ior lifting the vaseand associated parts from enclosed position.

4. In an enclosable vase structure, the'combination of a casing, a vase adapted to be received in the casing, means for supporting the vase in an outwardly extending operative position at the top of the casing, and means providing for limited upward movement and reversal of the vase relative to the-casing whereby the vase may be inserted within the casing.

WILLIAM C. GRUENEBERG. 

